Teen Girls and Drugs: A New Crisis?

Health Conditions

As the first generation raised under the banner of "Just say no" reaches adulthood, the problem of teen drug abuse shows no signs of diminishing. Countless millions of dollars are spent each year on a variety of preventative and public awareness measures to attempt to keep young people from experimenting with addictive substance. Billions more go toward treatment, rehabilitation and prosecution of those who already find themselves ensnared in the cycle of addiction and abuse. However, the roots of the problem remain firmly planted. In fact, new research shows that teen drug abuse may be reaching new epidemic levels, particularly among girls...

In a major new study of drug use among teens 18 years old or younger, the Office of National Drug Control Policy finds that more teen girls than boys are turning to drugs for the first time. In previous years, trends had indicated that drug use may have been decreasing among girls while going up for boys. However, the new nationwide study, the largest of its kind in scope in several years, finds that girls now surpass boys among first-time drug users.

Drug enforcement officials estimated that more than 1.5 million teen girls began using alcohol in 2004, the most recent year for which data was available. The number of first-time drinkers among boys was 1.2 million. In addition, an estimated 730,000 girls began smoking or using tobacco products in the previous year, compared with 565,000 for boys. For first-time marijuana use, the numbers were 675,000 for girls and 577,000 for boys.

Public health officials and addiction specialists expressed shock over the findings. Researchers pointed to previous findings that teen girls also suffer a higher rate of emotional and psychological affliction than boys. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, teenage girls are more than twice as likely as boys to suffer from depression. Girls also experience a higher risk of suicidal tendencies, eating disorders and chronic body image issues. Some research has shown that drug use can trigger symptoms of depression.

The current report raised several possible sources of teen girls' higher vulnerability to drug use. Researchers suggested that adolescent girls may be more susceptible to peer pressure than boys. In addition, some estimates suggest that diet pill use among teen girls is increasing, and researchers have hypothesized that some girls may turn from weight loss pills to smoking and other drugs in a misguided attempt to control weight.

Parents can take several measures to lower their teens' risk of falling prey to drugs. Studies have shown that parental influence actually plays a major role in teen decision-making, contrary to the claims of some flustered moms and dads. In a 2004 government study, teens who reported hearing their parents express strong disapproval of drug use were six times less likely to try marijuana than teens who heard mixed parental messages or less strong disapproval. In addition, an unhealthy home environment was found to significantly boost teens' risk of turning to drugs. Teen girls who experience conflict or high levels of negativity from family members are much more likely to try drugs.

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